The 3rd gen Beetle has been built around the Golf platform and is longer and wider than the previous gen Beetle. But the most talked about point of the new Beetle is its radical styling, it looks completely different than the previous one. The car has a lower profile, the front bonnet is longer and the front windscreen is shifted further back. There is also bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights. All this results in more muscular styling and though the design has changed it will still be recognised as a Beetle.

In the interior you will find three round instruments arranged in front of the driver and cabin has all the bells and whistles that you need.. The new Beetle has a top end entertainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, DVD player, voice control, SD card slot and 30 Gigabyte hard drive.

Among engine options there is the 140 bhp diesel which makes the most sense since the market is heavily tilted towards diesels. The design is now more youthful, the interior is now more luxurious and it drives better too. Looks like the new Beetle is ready for the Indian market.

The Beetle's performance engine is an optional 2.0-liter turbo gas motor, which is rated at 210 ponies and 207 lb-ft of torque. The car returns 21/30 with the standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed dual-clutch automatic.

A 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque will gradually replace the aging 2.5-liter straight-five as the volume engine for the Beetle.

Optional features, which can be bundled together in various packages depending on the model, include a panoramic sunroof, a Fender premium audio system, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, a keyless entry system, a multi-function trip computer, a rear-view camera, a touchscreen navigation system, leather seating and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls.

Base-engined Beetles feature an inexpensive torsion beam rear suspension, while the sportier R-Line model uses a more sophisticated multi-link setup. The two models also use different steering systems, with the standard Bug utilizing a hydraulically-assisted setup and the R-Line employing electric power steering.

All Beetles come equipped with dual front airbags and combination side/curtain airbags. Other safety systems include traction and stability control systems as well as an Intelligent Crash Response System that automatically unlocks the doors, disconnects the battery terminal from the alternator cable, shuts off the fuel supply and turns on the warning hazards and interior lights in the event of a collision.

Trunk space is actually up despite the decreased roofline; Volkswagen says about 10.9 cubic feet of luggage can be sequestered away behind the second row.

Locking of the Volkswagen is from the outside, also activated by touching one of the two door handles; in this case, however, a specially marked surface is used. When it comes to safety there is ESP or electronic stabilisation programme and there are six airbags, so you can be sure the new VW Beetle will keep you safe no matter what. When it comes to space there is more legroom and more boot space though headroom has been reduced slightly.

Most Beetle models can be ordered with Volkswagen's Car-Net infotainment system, which integrates the car's entertainment, navigation and climate control systems while offering crash notification, roadside assistance and stolen vehicle location assistance. Car-Net also features remote vehicle access, speed and boundary alerts and it can provide a vehicle health report. The bulk of Car-Net's features can be accessed via a smartphone.